Fran Kenstein Contest Update
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone's working hard on their submissions--the 30th is coming up fast! If you'd like to send 'work in progress' images to fran_kenstein@madefire.com maybe we'll post some! Not sure what I'm talking about? Check out this link pronto: fav.me/d7x622h
In the meantime, we have another stellar interview with another judge...we liked Dustin Nguyen's responses so much we thought we'd ask the same ones to legendary Liam Sharp to see his thoughts:
Can you tell us a little about yourself? And what’s your background in illustration/design—self-taught? University?
I’m a veteran of 27 years in comics, starting in the UK in 2000ad, through Death’s Head II – the biggest selling comic to ever come out of England – for Marvel UK, then on to Marvel US, DC, Image, Dark Horse, WildStorm and more. I’m now the co-founder and CCO if Madefire, and the co-creator of Captain Stone.
I’m basically self-taught, but I did serve an apprenticeship with the late great Don Lawrence when I was 18 – a loooong time ago!
How long have you been doing illustration? Can you walk us through your process?
I’ve been creating comic art since I was 18 professionally. As regards process – I’m a chameleon and am constantly looking to find new ways to create pictures in order to tell stories. It’s one of the things that interested me most about exploring the new digital medium of storytelling that we have pioneered at Madefire.
Here’s a link to me dA gallery: liamsharp.deviantart.com/galle…
As a creator what do you enjoy illustrating the most? And the least? Is there something you really dislike drawing?
It used to be barbarians! These days I love landscapes – which was very unexpected. I sometimes feel I could just paint landscapes all day. I still hate drawing cars – for some reason my brain really struggles to make that kind of technical drawing work properly!
Who are your artistic inspirations?
Bill Sienkiewicz, Moebius, Druillet, Barry Smith, John Buscema, Don Lawrence, Frazetta, Boris, Jeff Jones, Michael Kaluta, Bernie Wrightson, Jim Lee, Richard Corben, Liberatore, Serpieri, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Art Adams… the list goes on and on!
What advice would you give an aspiring artist?
Concentrate on the kinds of subject matter that you don’t feel good at. Love drawing MORE that you love drawing what you love drawing – because honestly, as a professional artist you’ll rarely get to draw the kinds of things you really love. Keep learning, and don’t be too hard on yourself.
What upcoming projects do you have in the works? Anything you’d like to plug?
More Cap Stone, and more scripting for MONO! Oh, and more Sherlock Holmes with Bill Sienkiewicz I hope!
Thanks, Liam! We're excited for anything you produce but more Sherlock Holmes would be amazing...
Have a safe weekend everyone and keep up the good work!
Madefire
